Samardo Samuels looking to Clippers

Cleveland Cavaliers' Samardo Samuels (right) of Jamaica shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder centre Nick Collison in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City last year, Friday, March 9, 2012. - AP

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's forward Samardo Samuels will have another opportunity to ply his trade in the National Basketball Association (NBA), in the United States next season, as he signed up to play for the Los Angeles Clippers in the summer league.

Samuels' agent, B.J. Armstrong, told The Gleaner in an exclusive interview from his base in California at the weekend, that the player will be looking to impress the Clippers' coaching staff in a bid to secure a permanent contract next season.

"He will be playing with the Los Angeles Clippers in the summer league, and then we will see what happen after," said Armstrong, who is also the agent of Chicago Bulls top point guard Derrick Rose.

"It doesn't mean that he is on their team, but he is just going to be participating with the Los Angeles Clippers this summer and he is going to have an opportunity to go there, play and try to make their team," he said.

The 24-year-old Samuels played two seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA before he was released in January.

Armstrong added that Samuels has received several offers from teams in the NBA for summer league tryouts, but they decided that the Clippers would be best suited for him.

"Like so many other free agent players, he's certainly going to have his chance this summer to go there and have an opportunity to possibly make their team," Armstrong said.

"He had a lot of offers and the best situation for him was the situation there,and so it was a matter of us getting him an opportunity to get back into the NBA," said Armstrong.

Samuels has improved

The 6' 9" Samuels has improved his game significantly after he was released by the Cavalier in January. He averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Reno Bighorns in the NBA Development League.

His performance in the Development League earned him at two-month contract with Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem in Israel's top basketball, where he also excelled, averaging 13 points and nine rebounds per game.

"He is playing hard and he is working hard and he is continuing to work at his game and I think he is improving," said Armstrong, who won three NBA Championships, as a member of the star-studded Chicago Bulls team which included Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

"He is a young player and I think his best basketball is ahead of him," Armstrong concluded.